Explore More
TikTok is filled with an array of trends that range from funny to deadly — including this alarming hoax.
National Rape Day appears to be an online hoax that has spiraled to scare people across the globe.
Several of the social media posts referencing National Rape Day have blown up online and led to women reportedly not wanting to leave their houses.
What is ‘National Rape Day’ and why is it trending?
It is not recognized by any nation or group, but people on the internet are claiming that men are bragging about planning and encouraging others to participate in a day of coordinated sexual assaults, supposedly on April 24.
News of the supposed scary day has even prompted authorities to issue warnings and guidance surrounding the potential attacks.
The posts have been shared predominantly on TikTok, but rumors of the terrifying day have also made their way to Instagram and Facebook, both owned by Meta.
“As fact checkers have confirmed, there is no evidence of this supposed ‘trend’,” a spokesperson from TikTok told The Post. “Content promoting this despicable behavior would be removed if it was found on our platform.”
TikTok and other social media apps have rules and regulations to monitor and limit dangerous references to rape and sexual assault, making it difficult to track how many posts are associated with National Rape Day.
To get around the guidelines, many users rely on workarounds like typing “r@pe” or “national r day.”
While an alarming amount of videos and posts online appear to be referencing National Rape Day, nearly all of the content advises women to stay safe and makes veiled threats to anyone who considers participating.
What day is National Rape Day?
Although there are no official reports of anyone actually participating or being victimized, posts on social media claim that National Rape Day is April 24.
This date is assumed to be chosen to take place during April to insultingly correspond with Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month “calls attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and impacts every person in the community” and “aims to raise public awareness about sexual violence and educate communities on how to prevent it,” according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
Who made National Rape Day?
TikTok videos and several articles claim that National Rape Day was started by six men who posted a video, in which they encouraged people to commit acts of sexual assault.
In the rumored video, the unidentified men allegedly claimed that for one day out of the year “it’s legal to sexually assault anybody” and “even provided tips on how to do so,” according to a photo floating around social media.
Videos dating back to early 2021 seem to reference National Rape Day, but all the videos reviewed by The Post and other news outlets warn users of the supposed violent day rather than promote it.
No evidence of the rumored original video or others promoting the day of assault has been found by any reliable sources, including TikTok themselves.
“Keeping our community safe is our priority, and we do not tolerate content that promotes or glorifies non-consensual sexual acts including rape and sexual assault,” a TikTok spokesperson wrote in an email to USA Today.
“While we have not found evidence on our platform of any videos related to this subject, our safety team is remaining vigilant and we will remove content that violates our policies.”
A Meta spokesperson told The Post that the company “currently has no indication of it going viral on [their] platforms” and is “always evolving [their] policies to make sure they are staying up-to-date with evolving trends.”
“We have strict policies against coordinating harm, including content that depicts, promotes or encourages dangerous viral challenges. We remove this content whenever we become aware of it,” the spokesperson said.
Can I report or block TikTok videos promoting violence?
To report a video on TikTok, simply press and hold the video down. Select the “Report” and follow the instructions that are provided.
Users can also flag an inappropriate or worrisome profile. To do so, tap the arrow icon in the top right corner and click on “Report” or “Ban” to be given more instructions.
If you need support, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or visit RAINN.org to speak with a specialist at any time.
ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3R7j21ma2xfrLW6eceoqauhlq62r7OMp5itoZ%2Bjrq150ZqnnmWUlsZutdJmnqihnpx6t7XRmqNmp55iwaq306iiZqyfma66ew%3D%3D